Biocatalytic Synthesis

For the production of chemicals and drugs as well as in other fields requiring high selectivity and tolerant reaction conditions, biocatalysis has evolved into a sophisticated technique. As an alternative to chemical catalysis, biocatalysis offers a wide range of uses in several industries. The most notable examples are when enzymes are used in organic synthesis, namely to create chiral chemicals for medicines as well as for the taste and fragrance business. Additionally, the production of speciality and even bulk chemicals uses biocatalysts on a huge scale. Over the past two decades, biocatalysis has grown into a relatively established and often employed technique. Until a few notable exceptions in the early 2000s, biocatalysis remained hidden in specialised applications and concentrated on the synthesis or resolution of optically active intermediates. The quick identification of novel enzyme variations by contemporary bioinformatics and computer-supported enzyme engineering are significant driving forces. Even though the enormous catalytic activity of enzymes is well acknowledged, their stability and expense are sometimes seen as limitations.